Sociology 300 – Spring 2012

1. Sociology 300 – Spring 2012 Research Proposal Guidelines

2. When due • Due Date: • No later than Tuesday, May 8 – 2:00 pm • In my box in main Sociology Office • No email attachments unless approved ahead of time

3. Specifications • Typed in regular font (12 point) • Stapled in upper left hand corner only • Include a cover page, but • No folders, binders, or other holders • No fancy pictures, ribbons, or other adornments • Must be grammatically correct (including spelling) • Use ASA format for citations

4. Proposal Organization • Cover Page with your name, date, course, and title of your proposal • Proposal Body with the Following Sections. • 1. Introduction and statement of the research problem (1 – 2 pages) • 2. Background/Review of Literature (3 – 4 pages) • 3. Method and Data (3 – 4 pages) • 4. Limitations (1 page) • Works Cited/References • Appendices

5. Introduction and Statement of the Research Problem • Briefly introduce your topic • Why did you choose the topic? • Why is it of interest (to you and/or sociology) • What specifically will you focus on? • State your research question.

6. Background/Review of Literature • This is an integration of the existing theoretical and empirical sociological studies related to your research question. • Draw on your annotated bibliography. • Include at least three articles from your annotated bibliography • mustbe from peer-reviewed sociology journals • Other items ok as long as three refereed articles are included • A literature review is not a summary of the articles. • It is an integration of ideas, theories, concepts, and findings from the articles. • Approximate length: 3-4 pages

7. Note:  For a good example of a literature review see the "Previous Research" section of the "Explaining Rape Victim Blame..." article in the Adler and Clark text (pages 219-220). • Also:  See the SSU library guide to literature reviews.

8. Data and Method (Use Headings) • 1. Proposed Data and Data Collection Method • Describe the method (survey, interview, fieldwork, content analysis) • Describe the nature of the data you will collect (including units of analysis) • Discuss how the method and data are appropriate for your research question • 2. Proposed Sampling Strategy • Be precise and use appropriate terminology • Keep in mind that the research is to be doable in a semester as a student (i.e., you will have few resources and little time

9. Data and Method – con’d • 3. Conceptualization and Operationalization of Variables • As much as possible define your variables using the existing literature (not the dictionary). • Discuss how you will operationalize each variable (i.e., develop appropriate measures for each variable using your research instrument). • Include a copy of your data collection instrument (in most cases, a survey or interview schedule) in an Appendix. Be sure that your instrument follows appropriate guidelines for development and design.

10. Limitations and Conclusions • Conclude your proposal with a discussion of the limitations or weaknesses in your proposal • Offer suggestions for minimizing the limitations

11. Works Cited/References • Using appropriateASA format, include a list of the resources cited in your proposal.  • The works cited must be among the items on your annotated bibliography but not all items on your annotated bibliography will necessarily appear on the works cited. • A minimum of 3 articles should appear, but more are expected • Reminder: The body of your paper is to be a continuous paper with proper headings and subheadings.

12. Appendices • Appendix I:  attach a copy of your data collection instrument. • Appendix II (Optional):  Attach a copy of a mock bivariate table showing the main categories for your proposed research • Appendix III: attach a copy of your annotated bibliography (See Annotated Bibliography Assignment Instructions)

13. Evaluation of Proposals • Do you ask an appropriate research question? • Are your proposed data and method appropriate to the research question? • Does the literature review: • Integrate ideas and findings from the articles (rather than summarizing each article separately) • Include at least three articles from peer-reviewed sociology journals • Avoid non-scholarly resources • Demonstrate how your research fits into the existing literature

14. Evaluation – con’d • Do you adequately conceptualize and operationalize each variable? • Is your instrument of high quality? Is it precise, thorough, thoughtful, and well-designed? • Is your sampling procedure clearly described and appropriate to the question? • Do you provide a complete and thoughtful discussion of the study’s limitations? • Do you use ASA style in your works cited? • Is the proposal well written and professionally presented?